Speaking to the media backstage at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Nov. 14, Stapleton's co-writer, Mike Henderson, revealed the title came from Keith Richards' autobiography. He was flipping through the book and came across a chapter titled "Broken Halos" and wrote a note next to it that read "song title." He brought the title to Stapleton, and the two finished the song in about an hour. "Then we drank some George Dickel and started another one," Henderson says.

Henderson and Stapleton have been songwriting cohorts for years, going back to when they were bandmates in the SteelDrivers. Henderson notes that he was one of the first people the country superstar met after getting a publishing deal in Nashville. "Whenever we would get together, it would sort of be an automatic process," he describes.

Stapleton was the first winner announced at the 2018 CMAs, admitting, “I didn’t expect this one,” during his acceptance speech. "Broken Halos" also won Single of the Year, and Stapleton picked up another trophy in 2018 for Male Vocalist of the Year.

He was the most nominated artist at the awards show, scoring additional nominations for Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for From A Room: Vol. 2.

Stapleton also performed during the broadcast, teaming with Maren Morris, Mavis Staples, Marty Stuart and his wife, Morgane Stapleton, for a rousing gospel-style medley of Stapleton's "Friendship" and the Staple Singers classic "I'll Take You There" that was one of the high points of the night.